Ticket-case.



No. 731,480. EATENTED JUNE i23, 1903. M. MAcDoNALD.

TICKET EASE.

APrLIoATIoN FILED EEB.11, 190s.

H0 MODEL,

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UNITED STATES Patented June 23,` 1903.

`TICKETCASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,480, dated J' une 23, 1903. Application led February 11, 1908. Serial No. 142,875. (No model To all whom t nfl/rtg colocarla Be it known that I, MURDocK MACDONALD, a citizen of the United States,-1residing at specification.

This invention relates to a ticket-case for conductors.

The object of the vpresent invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and elicient` ticket-case designed for use by conductors on cars or railway-trains and adapted to hold a quantity of tickets of a similar character and capable of accurately indicating the chan acter of the tickets sold or the distance traveled by various passengers and prevent any attempt of the conductor to tamper with the contents of the ticket-case.

A further object of the invention isto provide a ticket-case of this character adapted to enable tickets designatingthe starting and terminal points of a ride of a passenger to be torn oft and capable also of furnishing a concealed duplicate of each ticket in the form of an auditors voucher for. inspection at the proper olice.

With these and other objects in viewthe invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made Without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the ladvantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ticket-case constructed in accordance with `this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device on the line 3 3 of Fig.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

l designates a casing constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material and provided at one side witha hinged cover or lid 2, which may be moved to open position to permit the introduction of the tickets 3 and the removal tained at the issuing-office, the casing being locked after 'the tickets have been inserted `and remaining locked until the conductor returns the case, together with the stub portions of the tickets.

The tickets 3, Whichare designed in practice to be prepared in blocks, consists of duplicate sheets 5 and 6, the portion 5 of the ticket being detached and given to the passenger as a receipt for the amount of fare paid, While the stub portion 6 of the ticket is retained within the casing and forms a voucher which must be returned to the proper official when the tickets have been sold. The tickets are so arranged that the names of the stations appear in proper order on both the ticket and the stub portion in `parallel columns, the corresponding names being in direct alinement, and the cutting device, by means of which the ticket proper is severed from the voucher,is of such character as to provide corresponding Vindicatingmarks on both the ticket and the voucher to show the starting and terminal points of a ride, so that when the case is returned to the oice with the vouchers Pthe latter may be removed from the casing and the exact amount of fares col- `lected'loy the conductor readily determined.

As the casing is locked during all the timeit remains in the possession of the conductor,

there is no danger of ihe conductor tampering with the stubs or in any manner changing or altering the same without detection. That portion of the ticket to be handed to the passenger projects out beyond the front side of the casing, passing under the movable knifebar 8, the outer edge of which rests on the divisional line between the tvv/o` portions of the ticket. This knifebar maybe in the form of a flat blade, and its lower edge in contact with the ticket maybe sharpened, if desired. Projecting inwardly from the knifebar at points near the opposite ends thereof are lugs 9, having suitable openings for the passage of a spindle l0, which also extends through vertical slots l1, formed in the oppof' site end Walls of the casing and extending parallel with the cutter-bar. Near the rear ico edge of the casing are secured the ends of springs 13, provided at their opposite ends with loops or eyes for engaging the opposite end portions of the spindle and by exerting downward pressure on the latter retain the cutter-bar in engagement with the tickets.

In order to prevent inspection of the interior of the case between the top of the cutterbar and the top of the casing, 1 employ a Inovable curtain or shield 15,which may be formed of suitable flexible material, its forward and lower edge being secured to the cutter-bar, whileits upper portion is guided within a slot or passage 16, formed at the top of the casing. This shield moves with the cutter-bar and at all times prevents inspection of the interior of the casing.

The cutter-bar is provided with a longitudinally-disposed slot 17 for the reception of guiding pins or blocks 18 on or forminga part of adjustable cutting-pins 19, which project outwardly from the front face of the cutterbar. These tongues are preferably of triangular form and in use are adjusted until they point to the names of the stations between which passage is desired, the conductor first adjusting the tongues and then drawing up the projecting portion of the ticket until incisions are formed in the ticket between the names of the stations, after which the projecting portion of the ticket is severed by the straight edge of the cutter-bar. In a projecting portion of the ticket, which is then handed to the passenger, are angular notches 20, pointing to the names of the two stations between which the ticket is good for passage, while on the stub portion or voucher concealed within the casing are similarlyshaped projections, which are also opposite the names of the stations, so that when the voucher is returned to the auditor he is immediately informed as to the points between which the ticket was sold and, knowing the fixed rates for such passage, is enabled to determine the amount due by the conductor. Should an attempt be made to destroy the record of the voucher by tearing off the projecting tongues, the conductor may be held responsible for the value of a ticket good for passage between the two terminals of the road.

The spindle 10, carried by the lugs at the rear face of the cutter-bar, is provided with a number of friction-rollers 22, which may be formed of a yieldable material, such as rubber, and is further provided with one or more small toothed rollers 23, all of which are held in contact with the vouchersinside the case. After a ticket has been sold and detached from a corresponding voucher it is the conductors duty to revolve the spindle by means of the milled knob 24, arranged at one end of the spindle, for the purpose of drawing the projecting portion of the voucher within the casing, the turning movement of the several friction and toothed rollers causing aninward movement of the voucher, the body portion thereof being bent or buckled, so that at the completion of the operation the voucher will lie with its forward edge above said rollers, while the cutter-bar is free to descend for ccntact with the next voucher and in readiness to serve as a means for det-aching the next ticket sold. The toothed wheels are in constant engagement with the vouchers and are pressed against the saine to an extent sufficient to indent or partly perforate the vouchers, so that they not only assist in positively feeding the voucher inward, but also serve to indicate such feeding action or operation, and

any attempt to tamper with the device by drawing the vouchers outward to change the same will be indicated by the marker.

It will be seen that the device is especially adapted for use on suburban and similar roads where it .is desirable for the conductor to collect cash fares and where the fares collected from the passengers differ in amount and are controlled by the distance to be traveled by the passenger, so that it will enable a ticket for the desired distance to be rapidly and accurately severed and will simultaneously provide a duplicate record-slip or voucher for indicating the tickets sold to passengers and for enabling an accurate account of the transactions of a conductorl to be obtained. 1twill also be clearly understood that the device is adapted toindicate any attempt to fraudulently or surreptitiously alter the inner record-slips or vouchers.

The top of the casing may be either dat, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, or it may be slightly curved, as shown in Fig. 2, the curved form affording somewhat more room for the vouchers when fed wholly within the casing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing designed to receive sheets containing inner and outer ticket portions and concealing the inner portions of the same, adjustable means for enabling the latter portions of the tickets to be torn off at different points and forming permanent records on both portions of the ticket, and means for feeding the inner slip or voucher inward after the outer portion of the ticket has been severed.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing designed to receive sheets containing inner vand outer ticket portions and concealing the inner portions 0f the sheets, adjustable means for enabling the outer portion to be severed from the inner portion to provide a ticket for the desired distance and to produce a record-slip, and means for feeding the record-slip inward after the outer portion of the sheet has been torn oi, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing designed to receive sheets containing inner and outer ticket portions and concealing the inner portions of the same, adjustable means for enabling the outer portions of the sheets to be torn off at IIO IZO

' ing a casing designed to receive sheets consisting of inner and outer ticket portions,

said casing being provided with means for concealing the inner, portions of the sheets, adjustable cutters for enabling the outer portions of the sheets to be torn off at different points, means for feeding the inner portions of the sheets inward, and a marking device operated by the feeding mechanism for indicating the movement of the inner portions of the sheets, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described comprising a casing adapted to contain a duplicate ticket having the names of stations arranged in parallel columns and in which the outer portion of the ticket may be torn o and the inner portion retained to form a concealed voucher, adjustable means for forming permanent records of the names of the stations between which the tickets are sold, and means for feeding the projecting portion of the voucher inward within the casing.

6. A device of the class specified comprising a casing adapted to contain a duplicate ticket, a cutter-bar forming the front edge of the casing, springs for forcing the lower edge of the cutter-bar into contact with the tickets, adj ustable cutting-tongues carried by said cutter-bar, a spindle carried by thel cutter-bar, and friction-rollers mounted Non said spindle and engaging the inner portions of the ticket.

7. In a device of the class specified, a casin g adapted to contain duplicate tickets, a movable spring-pressed cutter-bar forming the front edge of said casing, adjustable cuttingtongues carried by said bar, a movable shield having one end connected to a cutter-bar, a spindle carried by the cutter-bar, and friction-rollers mounted on the spindle and engaging that portion of the ticket within the casing.

8. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a casing adapted to contain duplicate tickets, of a movable spring-pressed cutter-bar forming the front edge of the casing, a shield having one edge secured to the cutter-bar and movable therewith, adjustable cutter-tongues carried by the bar, a revoluble spindle carried by the cutter-bar, and toothed marking-rollers on the spindle and engaging that portion of the tickets within the casing.

9. In a device of the class specified, a casing adapted to contain duplicate tickets, a movable spring-pressed cutter-bar forming the front edge of said casing, a shield having one edge 'secured to the cutter-bar and movable therewith,adjustable cutting-tongues carried by the bar, lugs extending rearwardly from the cutter-bar, a revoluble spindle carried by the lugs and extending through slots formed in the end walls of the casing, and friction marking wheels or rollers mounted on said spindle, substantially as specified.

lO. In a device of the class speciiied, a casing having a movable side portion for the introduction of tickets, mechanism for locking said movable side portion, a movable springpressed cutter-bar forming the opposite edge of the casing, and adjustable cutting-tongues carried by said bar.

InA testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MURDOCK MACDONALD. v Witnesses:

PEARL A. EGERT, W. PAUL TRINTER. 

